Improvement in fence-posts



E. S. WEBSTER.

Pence-Post.

No. 203,804. Patented lvlayl14,187s.-

WEL 5521s, VM/cgf) JWM/MWL ALITHUGRAFMER'. WASHINGTON. DJS4 UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

EDWARD S. WEBSTER, 0F DURAND, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEM ENT IN FENCE-POSTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 203,804, dated May 14, 1878 application filed April 22, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD S. WEBSTER, of the town of Durand, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to provide a metallic fence-post of suitable size that shall have a sufficient lateral bearing surface to hold lit firmly in a vertical position, and to provide against frost action, which tends to lift the .post from the ground, also to provide a ready method of connecting the fence wires with the post.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an isometrical representation of my improved fence post with portions ofthe fence-wires in place. The several figures from 2 to 4, inclusive, represent a side view of portions of the post, showing the methodof connecting the fence-wires therewith. The several gures from 5 to 7, inclusive, are edge views of the same.

In the figures, A represents the main vertical shaft of the post, which is made from bar or plate material. Its lower end is formed in a quarter-twist, to bring the respective wide and narrow faces of the post above and below the twist at right angles to each other. Thehobject of this part of my invention is to give a wide bearing to the lower end of the post in opposite directions. At a proper distance from its lower end the post is slotted vertically, in which is placed the transverse bracing-bar B, which, in setting the post, is to be placed some distance below the surface of the ground, and is designed to increase the bearing of the post to give it rmness edgewise. Y

Gis a piece of bar material similar to the transverse piece B, and is centrally slotted lengthwise to receive the post, and to rest on the upper edge of the transverse piece B at right angles thereto. Its outer ends are bent downward'at right angles to the plate.

In setting the post, this bar Gis designed to be placed some distance below the surface, so that the weight of the earth on its upper side will prevent the post rising from frost action, and its down-turned ends will give additional support to the post edgewise.

The upper portion of the post is provided on its edge with notches of any suitable form, and at proper intervals, to receive the fencewires. In this instance the notch at a is of triangular form, opening on the edge of the post sufficiently to receive the fence-wire.

At b is shown the form of a metallic clasp cut from plate material in the form of a cross. This clasp is placed on the wire near the post, and its arms c are bent over the wire in the form of an equilateral triangle. It is then slipped on the wire into the notch in the edge of the post; then its arms d are bent outward from the wire to lap on the sides of the post, and in this form serves to hold the wire in place in the post.

At e the hole in the post is round, opening through the edge of the post to receive the wire, and at f is represented the clasp as out from the plate material. Its arms h are bent over the wire, and then slipped on the wire into the opening in the post, and its arms i bent outward from the wire against the sides of the post, and serve to hold the wire in the ost. p At o the hole in the post is also round, opening through the edge of the post to receive the wire, and at r is represented the blank cut from plate material, which, after the wire is in place in the post, is passed into the hole at o, and its two ends are bent outward from the wire` and closed over the front of the opening in the post, to prevent the wire from passing out of the hole, as seen at p.

From the foregoing it will be seen that in the forms of my improved fastening, as described, and represented in Figs. 3 and 4, it

not only serves to hold the wire in the post properly, but furnishes a longer bearing in which the wire rests, and serves to prevent the wear of the wire on the narrow bearing usually found in posts of this class. These bearings may be made of any practical lengths to prevent the wearing of the wire and render the fence more durable, and, if from long ing-bar B, and a horizontal bar, C, slotted lengthwise to receive the rnain shaft of the post7 these parts constructed and operating` substantially as and for the purpose hereinloefore set forth.

2. A fence-post having its edge notched to admit the fence-Wire, and the clasps surrounding the Wires in the notches, and embracing` the sides of the post, substantially as and forr the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

EDWARD S. WEBSTER.

Witnesses A. O. BEHEL, HOWARD D. FRosT. 

